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Herbs

September 2009

The number of herbs that are available worldwide is exceedingly great, but only a limited number are grown commercially outdoors in Saskatchewan. Some herbs, such as sweet basil and rosemary, are adaptable to greenhouse production.

Interest in herb production in Saskatchewan, as well as all of North America, has grown dramatically in the last two decades. This has been stimulated by many consumers looking for natural food and organically produced products, ethnic foods, and alternative medicines, as well as farmers wanting to grow alternative crops for economic reasons.

There are three main categories of herbs that can be grown in this province:

Culinary herbs

Medicinal and cosmetic herbs

Medicinal and essential oil herbs

Current Production

St. John's Wort

Statistics on herb production in Saskatchewan are not available. Many growers wish to keep their production information confidential and few surveys have been done.

Herbs grown in the past decade include:

Spearmint – for essential oil

Echinacea – medicinal

St. John’s Wort – medicinal

Feverfew – medicinal

Garlic – culinary

Valerian – medicinal

Coriander – essential oil

Dill – essential oil

Sweet Basil – culinary

Chamomile – culinary/medicinal

Willowherb (fireweed) – cosmetic

A number of the above crops have not continued in popularity here, because of changing markets, increased competition worldwide, excessive labour requirements, poor adaptability, lack of grower or marketing expertise and in some cases, disease problems.

Other herbs are being grown on a fairly small scale or experimental basis. These include:

Essential or pressed oil: borage, caraway and dill have been produced in Saskatchewan. Some of the essential oils used in aromatherapy include angelica, chamomile, fennel, juniper, lemon balm, hyssop, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, sage, thyme and yarrow. Many essential oils are also from plants not suited to our climate.

Other Herb Crops
When venturing into new herb crops, it is essential to obtain as much information as possible about the crop before planting and then plant only on an experimental basis. Enough of the crop should be planted to simulate commercial production, 10 rows about nine to 10 metres long might be considered.

Attention should be paid to:

hardiness of perennial crops

preferred soil type and growing temperatures

length of growing season and moisture requirements

propagation methods

required equipment

cultural practices required to ensure the plants do not become noxious weeds.

Above all, the ability to market the crop is paramount.

Potential growers might also consider native plants as well as exotic ones.

Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Directorate is the regulating authority for natural health products for sale in Canada and has banned some herbs because of their toxic properties (e.g. ephedra).

Organic Production

Many herb growers choose to grow their crops organically as a marketing tool or as a personal choice. A good understanding of organic production and practices is needed to effectively address pest and weed control. If land has not previously been in organic production, there will be a time lag of several years before certification can be given. For more information, including a list of certifying agencies, check the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate website at http://www.saskorganic.com/.

Labour Requirements

While some herb production, such as borage, milk thistle, chamomile and mint, can be produced on a field scale, the majority are produced in small plots as row crops or closely spaced in small beds.

Harvesting for some crops may occur repeatedly over the season or at least once or twice a year.

The use of small machinery, such as water-wheel transplanters, plastic mulch-laying equipment, cultivators and in-field dryers should be considered. In some instances, there may be opportunities to cost-share with other growers in the area.

Irrigation is required for a number of herb crops for establishment and good yields. However, some are better as dryland crops.

In addition, pest control, usually organic, may be necessary. Agronomic practices, such as between row-cultivation, can sometimes help reduce a pest population.

A good deal of hand-labour is required in keeping these plots free of weeds. The use of plastic mulches is gaining acceptance as a means of weed control, since it significantly reduces the amount of hand-labour required.

It should be noted that few pesticides are registered in Canada for commercial herb production, although that is slowly changing.

Costs of Production

Echinacea

Cost of production information for herb crops on the prairies is not readily available. See the “Books and References” section of this document for a list of some materials.

Marketing of HerbsThe marketing of herbs is becoming increasingly competitive world-wide and prices can be very volatile. In the past few years, Saskatchewan growers have seen price drops in ginseng, echinacea and St. John’s Wort. Most, or all, ginseng growers have ceased production in Saskatchewan because of the difficulty in competing in the global market. The number of echinacea growers has also sharply dropped.

New growers should carefully investigate markets before deciding which crops to grow. Some promising new crops, particularly perennial ones, may not seem so promising in a few years if too many new growers enter the market at the same time. Since marketing of raw or dried product provides the lowest return, growers should also consider whether they should produce a value-added product, which involves processing or packaging. Growers do not necessarily have to produce their own value-added products, but may opt to contract to commercial firms who return the finished product for sale and distribution.

After determining which market segment is the most appropriate (medicinal, culinary, wildcrafted, oils) and the scale of production, potential growers should examine where the markets are located.

Culinary herb producers could check nearby restaurants to see if they use herbs and, if so, whether there is a market there. It must also be determined if the producer can adequately supply quality product, in timely shipments. Farmers’ markets, supermarkets and institutions are other outlets for fresh and dried culinary herbs; mail-order and websites should also be considered.

For medicinal plants, markets are limited in Saskatchewan and exporting is usually required. Existing companies may obtain exporting expertise and assistance through federal government programs. Many manufacturers and distributors are reluctant to change suppliers; however, smaller companies may be interested. Local herbalists or aromatherapists may also be interested in new suppliers, and health food stores are other possible outlets. Most growers market to manufacturers and may enlist the services of brokers.

Essential oils are marketed through international brokers. There are only a few Saskatchewan companies that are manufacturing herbal products, but some of them may provide contracts to new growers from time to time.

Growers should examine national and international markets. They should be prepared to devote considerable time to market their products. It is often stated that successful producers spend more time marketing than growing their crops. They should know who the rest of the players are in the herb industry and consider joining a producer association, such as the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association. Working alone may not always be desirable – working with a trader or a co-op to pool product may make markets more accessible.

Many large companies are interested only in large quantities of herbs. Samples are usually required so the company can determine the quality. Documentation from the supplier, as to the validity of species and quality analysis, may also be requested.

Growers should find out what quantity the company needs and then determine if it will be possible to fill that requirement, once full-scale production is underway. It may also be advisable to investigate the integrity of the company, as some have marketed samples from many growers without actually purchasing the product. Growers should beware of companies promoting and supplying plants at low cost with dubious promises to buy back the product in a few years time.

Herb Quality

The issue of herb quality is becoming increasingly important. Manufacturers are becoming more demanding in obtaining high quality raw materials. Guidelines such as good agricultural practices have outlined acceptable practices in raising crops.

On-farm quality assurance programs require growers to document their production so each lot can be traced back to its origin and method of production. While these programs are not yet mandatory, growers who do not conform to these programs may have greater difficulty in marketing their products in coming years.

The Natural Health Products Directorate under Health Canada has established regulations that regulate manufacturing and labeling of processed herb products. These regulations deal with health claims that can be made on the labels of products destined for consumers. This agency also prohibits the sale of herbal products that are considered dangerous. For more information, see “Overview of the Natural Health Products Regulations Guidance Document” online at the Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

It is very important that herb growers are certain of the botanical identification of their crop. A number of years ago, there was considerable mix-up in Echinacea species seed, so what was thought be Echinacea angustifolia turned out to be E. pallida or hybrids of the two. Buyers of seed may wish to insist on a certificate of authenticity before purchasing seed from a new source. This is of less concern where there is only one species normally marketed.

A number of medicinal herb buyers have specifications regarding desired levels of active ingredients or marker compounds for identity verification. The level of active ingredient can vary according to seed source or variety, cultural practices and weather conditions, as well as to post-harvest handling methods. Growers may wish to have their test plots analyzed before proceeding to larger scale operations in order to determine if minimal requirements can be met. There are laboratories in Canada that can offer this service.

Post-Harvest Handling of Herbs

Depending on the market, herbs are handled in various ways. Fresh-cut culinary herbs (and potted plants) are often sold at farmers’ markets, directly to restaurants and stores or to wholesalers. The herbs are packaged according to the needs of the buyer, but may vary from five to 30 g poly bags, to one to three kg packages. Fresh herb producers need to be close to their markets in order to consistently supply good quality product. Short-term refrigeration may be required. The herbs must also be clean and free of insects.

Dried herbs have a less urgent need to be marketed quickly (feverfew is a notable exception) but are generally meant to be sold within three to 12 months, as quality of some may deteriorate after that time. Some particularly aromatic herbs (e.g. feverfew) may need separate drying and storage facilities to prevent the odour being absorbed by other herbs.

Growers need to determine the accepted methods of drying for each herb they grow. While some herbs may be dried outdoors in the field, greater quality control can be achieved by drying herbs indoors. In some instances, fans may be all that are required, while in other cases where rapid drying is desirable, dehumidifiers or artificial heat may also be used. The need for heat depends on the crop itself, relative humidity and temperature of the drying area. Exposure to sunlight while drying may be detrimental to the quality for some herbs. Special dryers are used by some growers, but grain bins and shaded greenhouses have been utilized. Where passive drying methods are used, the herb material is spread out on screened shelves to maximize exposure to air. It is important that the material dries quickly enough so that moulding or heating does not occur.

Astragalus root.

Washing is necessary to remove soil particles from root crops. If the roots are large, chopping or slicing may be desirable to allow for quicker drying, although it may be detrimental to the quality of some root crops. The drying and storage areas should be inaccessible to rodents, birds and pets.

Following drying to a moisture level of 10-12 per cent, the herbs are ready for shipping, storage or further processing. The latter may involve chipping of roots, cutting and sifting or grinding of the herb, depending on the ultimate market and the needs of the buyer. There are markets for bulk sales of unprocessed, dried and baled herb products, but small-scale growers may not find these markets accessible or profitable.

Growers who wish to make their own value-added products might consider making skin-care products, teas, herb and spice mixtures, potpourris, ornamental products such as wreaths and swags, pictures, floral arrangements, as well as tinctures. Another market is the sale of herb seeds.

Medicinal and Essential Oil Herbs

Essential oils are commonly removed from plants by steam distillation or solvent extraction, but steam distillation is the most common method. Depending on the plant, petals, bark, seeds, stems or leaves may be used. The oils are marketed to the food industry as flavourings; to the cosmetic and perfume industry for perfumes; and to the pharmaceutical industry. There is also an increasing demand for essential oils by herbalists who practice aromatherapy.

Essential oils can be produced not only from herbs but also from trees such as spruce. Other potential herbs are angelica, fennel, monarda, basil, parsley, sage, thyme, tarragon, garlic, evening primrose, calendula, wormwood and yarrow. There is a large demand for rosemary oil, but it is not hardy here, so production would be limited as a field crop. Some studies have been conducted in Alberta to assess the feasibility of growing rosemary as an annual field crop.

Entering the essential oil market is not easy as companies tend to remain loyal to suppliers that provide consistent supply and quality, and international competition is stiff. Quality analysis documents are valuable in finding markets. Aromatherapy markets may be more accessible to small-scale producers.

Distillation equipment can be very expensive. Smaller, portable field distillation units have been developed that may be of value to growers wishing to enter this market. Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) located at Humboldt, Saskatchewan, has done some research on distillation equipment.

Starting a Herb Plot

Rather than choosing only one herb that is currently popular, growers should consider growing more than one crop (four to six), particularly if it is a perennial herb that will not be harvested for several years.

A field location should be chosen with a soil that is suitable for the crops to be grown. Root crops are best grown on light to medium textured soils to facilitate digging. Leaf crops may be more adapted to heavy soils. Access to irrigation may be desirable for some herbs, although some growers may use only portable tanks and passive drip systems. Crops like echinacea or Chinese milk vetch may need little or no watering.

The land chosen should be as weed-free as possible. Some herbs are slow growing and very poor weed competitors. Plastic mulches can be utilized to help control weeds, but organic growers should check with their certifying agency before purchasing plastic, as not all may be approved. The plastic may need to be removed in the fall of the first year in order to prevent excess moisture build-up.

Some herb crops are very susceptible to diseases that attack field crops such as canola. For this reason, growers may wish to avoid planting herbs in fields that were recently planted to canola or even adjacent to a current canola crop. The field and any irrigation water should also be free of herbicide and pesticide residues.

Where practical, direct-sowing of seed may be more economical, particularly if irrigation is used. A number of companies offer young herb plants called plugs which have been grown in greenhouses. Growers should carefully consider costs of using plugs, keeping in mind that market prices may drop between planting and harvesting. In addition, not all plugs will grow to a saleable size, particularly if the crop is susceptible to diseases such as aster yellows. If a greenhouse is available, growers may choose to start their own plugs. Care should be taken to ensure that the plugs are not excessively root bound before transplanting, especially for root crops. Transplanted herbs may require some irrigation to get them established, particularly if the weather is hot.

Transplanting can be done by hand or by mechanical transplanters, such as the water-wheel transplanter which places and waters the plants in one operation.

Weed control is generally done by hand or with small cultivators, as there are few herbicides registered for herb production. Roguing is commonly practiced to remove diseased plants as they occur. For insect control, some organic growers use repellent sprays such as cayenne, but growers should always check with certification authorities to determine what, if anything, is permissible.

Harvesting times vary according to the crop. It may occur before or during blooming season. When aerial parts are harvested, the grower must know at which stage to harvest. Some crops will re-grow and produce a second harvest in the fall. Root crops are usually harvested in the fall after the first frost. Specialized equipment may be desirable to dig the crop, but it can be costly. Equipment may be available for rent from other growers.

Additional Sources of Information

Many herb growers obtained their expertise through trial and error, but networking with other growers is of great value. This can be done via the Internet or by joining an association.

The Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association (SHSA) formed in 1991, achieved national prominence in promoting the herb and spice industry.

Co-operative herb research between the University of Saskatchewan and irrigation researchers at Outlook, Saskatchewan has been ongoing for several years. Prospective growers may wish to visit the research site during the growing season.

Herb Research Publications in Saskatchewan

A number of herb research projects, funded by the Agriculture Development Fund, are ongoing or completed. Some of these are available at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s website under Research.

Additional research projects have been funded by the Agri-Food Innovation Fund.

Internet Sites

In addition to those previously mentioned, there are many other university and state websites, as well as those of herb associations and health organizations and private companies. Doing an Internet search for medicinal herbs, natural health products or specific crop names will yield many results.

Slow growing perennial, 30 - 60 cm tall, with large broad leaflets. Small greenish-white flowers form red berries in fall. White roots are taprooted and take several years to develop size.

Usually harvested in the fall of the fourth or fifth year; larger roots giving better prices. Proper drying necessary to retain quality. Seed may also be marketed. Prices have dropped considerably. Not currently recommended here.

Goldenseal – Hydrastis canadensis

Seed, but must be kept moist from harvest until planted; young divisions or root buds often used.

Requirements similar to ginseng; may tolerate slightly more sun; less disease-prone but requires good drainage and winter protection.

Grown as an annual; large plants 1.2-1.8 m tall, upright, with large stiff, very spiny leaves which are dark green marked with white. Thistle like purple flowers produce black seeds attached to white hairs.

Seeds are harvested, but timing is difficult as not all mature at once. Flower heads are cut and allowed to dry, then cleaned to remove seeds. Pre-desiccation of plants is desired to reduce biomass.

Good fertile soil; often grown in shade, but sun tolerant if moisture is adequate. Likes ample moisture and may need some fertilizer; hard to weed. S. baicalensis needs good drainage and requires less moisture.

Only roots are harvested, usually in autumn of second year. Difficult to clean; roots have unpleasant odor but which attracts cats.

Willowherb/ Fireweed – Epilobium angustifolium

Seed; direct or transplanted plugs.

Little cultural information available; often harvested from wild stands. Adaptable to dry soil, may not require high nutrient levels.

Cosmetic uses; treatment of sunburn.

Tall, perennial plants to 2 m, narrow, with somewhat willow-like leaves and very show pink, light purple or white flowers in racemes. Roots are rhizomatous. Often considered invasive.

Harvest top growth in summer during early to full bloom by hand picking in wild or swathing cultivated crop. Dry in field for 2 days then use dryers (large capacity required). Markets limited at present.